Beijing police authorities on Thursday publicly destroyed 300,000 pirated or pornographic VCDs, a move signaling their determination to crack down on illegal activities related to pornography and piracy.

Police authorities said efforts to hunt down and seize pirated obscene VCDs had intensified at key areas, such as pedestrian tunnels and bridges.

Statistics released by city authorities show that from July to the end of October, police uncovered 11 premises, arrested 218 illegal VCD sellers and confiscated more than 820,000 illegal publications, including 300,000 pornographic VCDs.

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2003)